Saltcellar



N. A. GORDON July 7, 1953 SALTCELLAR Filed April 18, 1951 Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE .f

Y Y .2,644,61sr

sAL'rcELLAR Nqymannleit Gordon, oklahomaoity; one.. Application April 18, 1951, semina. 221,707'- 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-183) My present invention relates to'` improvements in saltcellars and similar containers,moreAv par'- ticularly to saltcellars of silver or silver alloy which is corrodible by salt. y

Saltcellars of silver or a silveralloy areL readily corroded and rendered unsightly by contact with salt particularly'when in contact with the moisture of the atmosphere'. InV time the salt will corrode theY silver to such an extent as to destroy or render the cellar unusable. This has heretofore been an obstacle to the practical use of saltcellars of silver although it is desirable to have saltcellars of siver to match table silverware.

This obstacle to silver saltcellars is obviated by my present invention whichenables the silver or metal of the cellar to be protected fromcontact with salt, and also may reinforce and strengthen the metal of the cellar.

In my present invention, I provide a saltcellar of silver or suitable metal or alloy with a lining of a plastic or other material resistant to corrosion by salt such, for example, as pressed wood, vitreous or ceramic ware, aluminum, etc., and so arranged that salt may be dispensed from the cellar without contact with the silver or metal. The lining may be made of any one of a number of organic or non-metallic plastic, either thermoplastic or thermosetting resins. Synthetic resins, such as phenolic, urea, polystyrene, cellulose acetate, vinyl and methyl methacrylate plastics are suitable.

The lining may be formed on the inner surface of the saltcellar in any convenient manner. Preferably it may be molded and assembled within the metal cellar or the metal members may be assembled on the molded plastic.

The plastic, salt resistant, lining separates the salt from contact with the silver and for this purpose preferably delivers through a tube extending downwardly through and out of contact with the base of the saltcellar.

The various features of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is'a vertical section of a saltcellar embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded side view of the parts forming the outer metal shell of the saltcellar;

Fig. 3 is a similar exploded View of the lining parts, and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a dispensing tube for insertion into the lining.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the saltcellar comprises an outer shell designated in Fig. 1 generally by the reference numeral IIJ, and

2. a; lining designated by the reference-numeral"` I I=. In the embodiment shown, the shell is' formed' ofa base I2, a container body I 3 open at its'lower end within the base I2 joined at its upper end to a shoulderpart I4'. The upper end or* neck of the shoulder part is closed by a top or cover I5 which is removable for filling the cellar.

Similarly the lining comprises a hollow vbase I6 the outer surfaceof which conforms'closely to, and ii'ts, the inner surface ofthe base I2and a` container'bo'dy I'I the outer surfacel of which ts and conforms to the inner surface ofthe body I3. The upper part of the base" and the bottom of the body I'I are provided each with an opening so that when the body and base-are assembled these openings coincide. The body I'I also has a re-entrant tubular extension I8 project'- ing upwardly into the container fora short -distance. Theliningalso comprises a shoulder part I9 ofl molded plasticfitting the inner sur-faceof the shoulder I`4' ofthe metal shell.v The shoulder lining I9 is open at its upper end or neck and its lower edge is preferably grooved to t complementary grooves in the upper edge of the container part I1.

Extending from the upper part of the liner.

body I1 through the tubular extension I8 into the hollow portion of the base I6 is a dispensing tube 20 preferably of salt resistant plastic material, or of any material that is not corroded by salt or other contents of the cellar.

The lining parts and metal shell are assembled as follows:

The base I2 is soldered or welded to the body I3 at their adjoining edges leaving van opening from the body to the base. The hollow liner base I6 is then inserted into the base I2 and the liner body I1 is inserted into the shell body I3 so that the lower edge of the body I'I abuts the upper edge of the liner base I6 within the opening between the shell body and base. The liner body and base are cemented or joined together at their abutting edges by a cement suitable to the particular plastic or material selected. The tube 2|! is then inserted through the tubularl extension I8 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and cemented in place. The re-entrant extension I8 serves merely to enable the tube to be more securely held and cemented in position. The liner shoulder I9 is then cemented in position on the upper edge of the liner body I'I and the metal shoulder I4 is mounted on the upper edge of the body I3 and crimped or rolled into tight interlocking engagement therewith.

When thus assembled the lining and shell are firmly interlocked from the bottom of the base to the neck opening and all of the interior of the metal shell is separated from any contact with the salt within the cellar and thus protected from corrosion. The liner being of substantial thickness and rigidity, also strengthens the shell against being dented or otherwise distorted or injured thereby giving the shell the advantage of a heavier gauge metal than that actually used.

The shell cover or top I is protected against contact with the salt by means of a cover plate 2| of salt resisting material against which the salt is thrown when the cellar is shaken. The plate 2| is removable for filling the cellar and rests on a removable funnel 22 of salt resisting material having openings 23 to permit salt to pass upwardly to the plate 2| and fallback into the funnel. The lower end of the funnel delivers into the tube 20 through which the salt falls outY of the cellar to be thus dispensed. The plate 2| may be foraminous or perforated with holes 24 so that any moisture-entering the cellar may pass to a yspace between the plate V2l and the hollow of the top or cover I5 and be absorbed by a dehydrating or moisture absorbing agent therein.

This dehydrating material keeps the salt from passing through the openings in the foraminous plate if a foraminous plate is used and thus keeps it from contact with the cover I5. However a solid plate 2| may be used in which case no dehydrating material would be used as the inner shell would then be sealed.

It will be understood that the form and arrangement of the parts may be varied as well as the manner of assembly and that parts shown as separate and cemented may, where conditions permit, be made integral. f

Through the above invention I have provide a saltcellar having the advantages of asilver or metal cellar as to appearance but which is free from corrosion and is of increased strength and rigidity.

4 The invention may, of course, be applied or utilized for pepper shakers and other utensils.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: 1. A saltcellar which comprises an inner shell of material resistant to salt, said shell comprising a compartment for salt completely closed at its upper end and having a bottom discharge, an open ended tube extending from the upper end of said compartment throughthe bottom of said compartment, means to direct'salt from the upper part of said compartment into said tube, and an outer shell of metal enclosing the outer surface of said inner shell and out of contact with the interior of said inner shell and the salt therein.

2. A saltcellar which comprises a base of molded material resistant to salt having an opening in its top, a container of molded material resistant to salt mounted on top of said base completely closed at its upper end and having a bottom discharge, an openY ended tube of material resistant to salt extending from the upper part of said container downwardly and projecting through the opening in said base, a re-entrant tubular extension into said container from the lower end thereof tting about said tube, and a metal shell enclosing and fitting said base and container and out of contact with the interior of said container and the salt therein.

NORMAN ALBERT GORDON.

References Cited in the le'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l161,484: Coulthard Mar.V 30, 1875 270,189 Golding Jan. 2, 1883 1,724,028Y Kraft Aug. 13, 1929 1,758,117 Kraft May 13, 1930 1,890,222 Jennings Dec. 6, 1932 2,373,551 De Lauder Apr.`10, 1945 

